What we love…

fun accessible #stem themed app that teaches colors with a space perfect for toddlers or those learning colors

What we’d love to see…

a sticker type game or perhaps painting with colors on a space themed background, a page where each Wootzy said their color

Summary

Fun #stem themed app that encourages kids to learn colors using a space theme. Rhythmic and engaging for my toddler.

Our Rating

STEM Storiez – Wootzy Col0rs by Zyrobotics is a universal app for iOS which features #stem learning. The app features science, technology, engineering, and math skills and also is usable with the Zumo bluetooth turtle for those with accessibility challenges. The app features a variety Wootzys in different colors each with a different space themed interactive background.The stories feature narration, voice/music, the ability to “type out e-book text” which means text appears as is it read. Each of these can be toggled in the settings, and navigation is at the bottom of each page via arrows. The app can be used via the touchscreen on your iPad/iPhone or via a play stylus as well as the buttons of the touch screen Zumo turtle. Each time you touch the screen an interactive element is triggered like the Wootzy moving, a musical sound, or animation. The app can use a stylus, however, I reviewed it on the iPad as well as with Zumo Turtle.

One of my favorite things about the app was the level of customization that you can do. I loved that you can remove/add sounds as well as change the size of the text on the screen. The story is interactive and engaging for kids with on device learning. Each color is introduced on a different page and the user is encouraged to say the name of the color. My toddler loved the rhythmic sound of the story with “what planet is this? What Wootzy lives here” and was able to repeat the text while we practiced his colors. I also liked that you could turn on and off the voice/music so I could read it to my son and we could then “practice” what color is this? Using the Zumo turtle connected via Bluetooth, my toddler was in control. I loved that he could tap on the turtle to move the pages back and forth because at times the arrows were a bit hard for him to navigate.

In terms of improvements, I would like to see a fun activity at the end of the app after the story is completed to practice colors. It could be painting, or stickers with the items from each page which would engage kids and also allow them to demonstrate that they understood the colors. I’d also like to see a page that featured all of the colors where you could tap on each Wootzy to hear them say their color.

There are no-in app purchases or advertisments, and the parental area is gated with a math problem. The settings area does not have a parental gate, but there are no external links, you can simply turn on and off the various items. Fun #stem themed app that encourages kids to learn colors using a space theme. Rhythmic and engaging for my toddler.

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

What we love…

focus on critical thinking, fun and easily adaptable way for children of all abilities to be included

What we’d love to see…

parental dashboard to show progress within the apps as well as a multi-player capability

Summary

e level of customization is something that I have not seen in any other type of learning system – and the ability to work with kids on #commoncore learning to their abilities and progress upward is a huge step in the right direction. I can’t wait to see what apps come next!

Our Rating

The Zumo(TM) Learning System by Zyrobotics is a learning system that makes apps switch accessible so everyone can use them. In the box is Zumo the Turtle, an Android Tablet in a kid proof case which comes pre-loaded with Zyrobotics apps.

You can either buy the switch and use it with your own tablet or buy the entire Zumo Learning System. As tested we used it both with the Zumo Learning System and with an iPad Mini. Zumo paired easily to both devices and kept a charge for quite a long time (8 hours) despite multiple uses and play with the apps. As a mom, I loved that the system made the apps accessible which meant that everyone could participate rather than having to limit it. This would be great for a special needs child who may have limited fine motor function and has trouble using a regular tablet or stylus. The ability to customize the games to the level of your child is a huge bonus in my mind!

My older son has loved many of the Zyrobotic math apps for a long time – and one of the things that I always thought was great is that the team has made them switch accessible so that everyone can use them. You can read our review of Zyromath City Count to learn more about that app – essentially the apps are math or common core based and you can use the Zumo turtle to control the movement instead of having to use your tablet. I tested the Zumo on both the included tablet as well as my iPad Mini which I used Reflector for to put onto our large screen TV. It was a huge hit! Zumo made it fun for my son to play with the apps – and meant we could all play while sitting on the floor and passing the turtle from person to person for each of the games. My son also loved that he could use a switch to control a screen – and it helped him and I have a discussion about how different people learn using different abilities. I also liked that the apps engaged and made it fun for my son to play – and that he was able to move from using the iPad with his fingers to the switch quickly and easily. I had both of my kids using Zumo although my iToddler is a bit young, he quickly got the concept of touching the turtle to make an action happen on the screen. I liked that it could be customized for individual learning goals and also that my son was able to demonstrate mastery of specific counting and math goals by using the provided apps.

In terms of enhancements, it would be great if in the future Zumo became compatible with other switch enabled apps. This would allow for more usage across a wider variety of apps. I would also like to see some sort of a dashboard which can show the skills that your child is working on and areas that may need focus. This helped me to understand that my son was struggling a bit and adjust the complexity of the app for him. I’d also love to see the apps become multi-player like my son and some of his friends did while they were playing with the Zumo Learning System together to solve the Forest Fight. It was fun to see how he and his friends used critical thinking skills to solve a problem or move to the next section of the game. My son loves math and he loved learning and experimenting with Zumo to see how different touches made the players or characters on the screen act differently. Each of the apps includes rewards and motivators that engage kids and leave them wanting more or to complete a task.

I can’t wait to see what new apps that Zyrobotics comes out with that we can test Zumo with!

Overall, this is a great system designed to help kids of all abilities have a level playing field. The level of customization is something that I have not seen in any other type of learning system – and the ability to work with kids on #commoncore learning to their abilities and progress upward is a huge step in the right direction. I can’t wait to see what apps come next!

The Zumo Learning System is regularly priced at $299.00 but is currently on sale for $159.99 and includes a 30 day money back guarantee. You can purchase one at Zyrobotics website.

NOTE: A product was supplied by the company for review purposes, no other form of compensation was received, all opinions stated in the review are those of the author and have been offered honestly.

Alison, the American iMum is from Massachusetts. She lives there with her sons and husband. In their spare time, they enjoy playing outside, enjoying nature and of course testing apps and fantastic products on their devices. They have a variety of devices including an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod and is often found with a device! My older son loves technology and loves testing out the “latest and newest” apps and tech. I love sharing information about apps and products with others to help them make decisions without feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices.

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Meet the iMums

The iMums - Amanda, Alison, Mary and Grace - are four mothers from different parts of the world dedicated to informing parents about the best digital stories, educational apps, fun games and technology products available for their children. We also offer the latest news in apps for kids, interesting articles, developer interviews, free apps and regular giveaways! Read more.

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